Windhoek - Post Report Question and Answers
How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
I can find almost everything I need here. German, Portuguese, and South African goods are common. Plenty of non-dairy milks are available and tofu is available if you know where to look. The produce is decent but keep an eye on the seasons when certain things will disappear from the shelves (limes, avocados). - Jul 2024
Slightly cheaper to U.S. prices. There are a lot of nice supermarkets (SuperSpar, PicknPay). We really loved the Sunday organic market near Ludwigsdorf neighborhood. Namibia has amazing grass fed beef. Its not a great country for vegetarians/vegans. Braais (BBQs) are a way of life here, socially and at work. The German heritage means lots of great baked goods: breads, pretzels, etc., and deli meats, sausages. Lots of produce from nearby South Africa. - Jan 2021
Groceries are very available at stores such as Checkers, Fruit & Veg, and Spar/Super Spar. The grocery cost is a bit higher because almost everything is imported from South Africa. There are a few familiar brands. Most items can be purchased locally. They do not have a frozen-food section with ready-made meals like we do in the U.S., so most things have to be made from scratch. They have chicken, beef and game. Turkey is only available around Thanksgiving. They have a large German section in many grocery stores, with German meats/sausages and chocolates. - Jan 2016
You can pretty much get most things in Windhoek, sometimes at a price. Baking supplies are amply available. Meat is cheap. Fresh fruits and vegetables selections can be slim in the winter. I usually spend about US$75 on groceries per week, when the exchange rate was N$10:1. - Jun 2015
Grocery shopping can get ridiculous here. You have to hit two stores (at least) to get good produce, and then you get meat at another place and canned staples at still another. We're spending an average of $150 a week on groceries, not counting the Amazon and Netgrocer supplements, and only certain members of the embassy are eligible now for VAT refunds. Pharmaceuticals are completely overpriced here as well. You can find household supplies, but the sponges aren't exactly sturdy, and the dish soap doesn't clean as well as Dawn. Fairly typical stuff like that. - May 2013
Groceries seem to be getting more expensive. We shop weekly (family of 4) and spend about $150 each week (USD). You can find most things but may have to go to more than one store. Most items are South African, and you can find German items. Sometimes you can find American products - usually at the SuperSpar. - Jan 2013
Groceries are a bit more expensive than in Europe and a lot more expensive than in the typical U.S. city. Diplomats are eligible for 15% VAT relief on most things, and that helps. Most of the non-Namibian items are from Europe, but more and more you see U.S. brands - but they come at a price (i.e. $10 for a small box of Shredded Wheat) and $5 for a can of refried beans). - Jul 2012
